How I've dealt with the spaghetti mess of cabling

[DavidTrap]

As previously promised, here are some images of my electronic junction box that sits beneath my tripod, and the data and power umbilical cables that run up each side of the mount.

I, like some of the great astro-imagers on the forum, must use a portable setup. This box contains a powered USB hub, USB-Serial converters and a 12V power supply. It receives all the data cables from the mount and distributes power to all of the equipment. I have managed to find at Jaycar 12V adapters for the USB hub and Laptop, so that I can run off 12V batteries if heading to remote sites (eg Leyburn). Usually, the 240V adapters for these devices run off a 240V powerboard that sits within the box. There is a junction box that all of the 12V cables plug into - this was done to allow one connection back to either a 12V power supply or deep cycle battery. The lid on the box can be closed when in operation so that dew is kept off the electronics.

The umbilical cables are wound in spiral wrap - the necessary connectors emerge from the spiral wrap at the appropriate points to plug into their devices, eg. mount computer, robofocus, cameras, dew heaters. The cables are attached to the tripod and mount with velcro strips - there is enough slack in the loops of the cables to swing the mount anywhere that one would reasonable want to image (>15-20 degrees above the horizon). Looking towards the pole, data runs on the right hand side of the mount and power runs on the left. I've put the ferrite RF chokes on all of the power cables from the outset - I'm not getting any interference, but haven't tried without them to see if it makes any difference.

The Robofocus controller and 12V distribution box are velcroed to the tripod to keep everything tidy.

There is one USB cable that runs from the box to the laptop which conveys all data to run imaging, guiding, mount & focusing. Thus far, it all seems to work happily together.

At the end of a session, the cables are rolled loosely up and stored in the box - there's plenty of room within the box to store extension leads, 12V adapters and miscellaneous bits. I estimate this saves 10-15mins in setup and pull down, versus individually rolling out and plugging in each cable.

Best of all, everything is together in one spot when it comes time to head off bush and do some imaging.

Cheers
DT

[DavidU]

Nicely done David. Tidy wiring makes for easier & more reliable imaging.

[DavidTrap]

Thanks David - the biggest advantage is the speed of setup & pull-down.

DT

[strongmanmike]

Top work Dave! Looks very neat....would love one :question:

The is a comecial device too that allows you to route many of your devices through a single junction box and then have just one power cable and USB cabe to control everything...can't recall what it's called but I think it featured in an advert in a recent issue of AS&T..?

Mike

[DavidTrap]

I saw that advertised Mike - but it was long after I had started to accumulate all this stuff.

DT

[hotspur]

Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance!;)

Looks very good,lets hope its clear next NM so you can bring it all up for a few nights!.

Chris

[RobF]

Top job and thanks for sharing what you've done David. I keep most of my junction boxes etc velcroed under the mount and leave the cabling attached whereever possible, and agree this saves at least 20mins every put up/pull down for those of us without observatories - really reduces the grunt work and makes it so much easier to get going. The benefits in terms of smoother tracking are often overlooked I suspect, particularly for those of us with cut price mounts.

I love the way you've addressed dew concerns, storage and lastly reduced the chance of leaving something behind when going offsite too :thumbsup:

[netwolf]

Nice job David, I need to do the same as i waste a lot of time finding all my bits and pieces which are stored in asorted box's. BTW what USB hub are you using? And how long is your cable run from the mount to your Laptop?

Mike do you still have the magazine, what is the name of this device? I am querious. sounds like a nice all in one solution.

[DavidTrap]

Netwolf - the hub is a Belkin Powered USB hub. The cable run from the box to the laptop is 4 metres (purposely less than 5m to reduce the potential for signal drop out). The cables up to the cameras are 3 metres.

The boxes are advertised in the back of Sky & Telescope from time to time.

DT

[gregbradley]

I haven't been able to find a multiple 12 volt power supply to supply say 5 outlets. That would help. The Proline has 2 power outlets and 2 extra USB ports which cleans things up. But the Microline does not.

Where did you get your power box or did you make it?

Greg.

[netwolf]

Greg, I am sad to hear it well its just not right. You should just send that microline over to me immedietly. ;)

Still have not manged to find this power box in the magazine. I am looking at the American one. is it in the Australian one?

[DavidTrap]

Greg - I made the box from Jaycar sourced bits.

Netwolf - I've seen the ad in the Australian S&T, in the section at the back.

DT

[keni]

There is a company called Hitec Astro that sell some junction boxes.
Is this what you were thinking of????
http://www.hitecastro.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48:mount-hub-pro&catid=36:mount-hub-pro&Itemid=54

Star Optics have advertised them in Aust Sky & Telescope.

Cheers,
Ken.

[marc4darkskies]

Very neat and well organised Dave! Good stuff!

Cheers, Marcus

[DavidTrap]

That's the one Ken.

DT

[Polmear]

That looks like a well organised setup.
I was hoping to get a USB hub mounted onto the scope, so it could be fed with one power and one USB cable, but since USB hubs are generally so flimsy I think a system like yours would be a safer bet. Next time I'm in town I'll pick up a toolbox and stuff++

[peter_4059]

Nice setup David. I did something similar and it sure saves time setting up and packing up as well as keeping things dew free.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=30827&highlight=neat+pete

There's a few more items in it these days!

[g__day]

Very nice cable wrap job!

[stevous67]

Interesting topic David, thanks for sharing.

I've been working on this topic too, ultimately settling for a 6 port 12v USB hub that is mounted on my scope. This leaves only one 12v cable, one USB cable, and the guider cable coming off the scope.

Having the dew heater and other devices all mounted on the scope. Like you, I'll make my own power box from Jaycar, possibly using one of their 12v power boards for the base, as these are cheap, have a switch and accompanying fuse per line.

Its an interesting topic, especially for making setup and pull down easy as possible.

Cheers David,

Steve

[RobF]

One other application for velcro for EQMOD users using wireless gamepads for scope steering - I've put a bit of velcro on my laptop lid and a bit on my USB wireless transmitter. Then if I want to leave the warm comfort of the dining room to head out with laptop to adjust me eFinder orientation or tweak alt/az adjustments realtime, I can take the laptop with me and only have to worry about keep an eye on the USB connection.
Keeps it up out of the dew too if outdoors.

[stevous67]

These Power distribution boards are dead easy to make, including a fuse per line to suit your accessory, a LED, a volt meter, even a switch per line if the box had enough surface room. Here are some pre-fab units used for RC modeling:

http://www.rcaccessory.com/12vdcpowerstrip.aspx

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXUDR0&P=7

A simple one:

http://www.siriuselectronics.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=51&products_id=453

[stevous67]

Wow, now these power boards are nice:

http://aero-smith.net/cart/index.php?main_page=index&filter_id=10&manufacturers_id=1&sort=20a&page=1

Now this is the one to get carried away with... The MFJ-1126

[DavidTrap]

I was using banana plugs, but changed to a polarized plug to reduce the chance of blowing something up in the darkness.

DT

[stevous67]

Good point David.

[ReaPerMan]

I actually have the Mount Hub Pro from Hitec Astro and it's a great device it runs all the power you could want as well as a dew heater controller, Focuser and GPS. All in the one box. It has software control that allows you to individually turn accessories on and off and adjust the amount of power you want to go to your dew straps. I have it interfaced to EQMOD and alignmaster for the GPS and have had no problems since i got it.

all the best

Paul

[marki]

My solution is the same as Pauls, two wires leave the mount the rest is in one box, very neat.

[stevous67]

The Mount Hub Pro is a very interesting product - mounting on the scope is an excellent idea.

[cventer]

Mount Hub looks good.

Some question for those using one.

1. Does it support Windows 7 ?
2. How do you power camera's like QHY that uses Mini Din and SBIG that use DIN from the HUB ?
3. Do Robofocus Motors plug directly to the mount hub ? ie dont need robofocus control box ?

[marki]

It is a marvel.

Q1. Yes it does, I have mine hooked up to a 64 bit win 7 system but you do have to download the latest mount hub pro software.

Q2. The din plug (S video Cable) on the QHY camera's run between the power box and the camera itself. (Quiy does it this way to keep the power board away from the camera to reduce noise). You must connect a standard 2.1 mm power plug into the power box to power up the camera. Luckily that is exactly the type that comes with the mount hub pro :). I have no idea how you would get around the SBIG din cable setup.

Q3. Yes the robofocus stepper plugs directly into the mount hub pro and is controlled either by the included hand controller in manual mode or by the mount hub pro software in PC mode. I have one set up on my scope and it works a charm. It will also control the Moonlite stepper motors and any other variant that has the robofocus pinout. You do not need another controller to do it.

In short I love this device, Well worth the dollars.

Mark

[troypiggo]

Mind if I ask some questions about that Mount Hub Pro also?

Focuser - I've read it will control my Moonlite focuser, but from the photos I've seen it appears there's 2 interfaces on the hub for focus control. One looks like a serial adapter and I assume that's for the hand controller? And one looks like a RJ11 phone type adapter, which I think the SkyWatcher motor focusers use. Is that right? So I'd need a RJ11 to small stereo earphone type jack that the ML focuser needs at its motor?

Power - I see different types of power connections. Some RCA, presumably for the dew heaters? And some 2.1 or 2.5mm 12V plugs, and it looks like they supply 4 cables with it. So what type are the remaining power connections?

[marki]

The serial conection is for the focuser itself. Robofocus and Moonlight steppers use serial connections, neither my robofocus or Moonlite have a stereo jack input??? Are you using the stepper motor or the other version? The focus function will only work with the stepper motors. The phone type adaptor is where you plug in the supplied hand controller for the focus function if you want to use it manually (there is a switch manual/PC control on the hub).

All the power conections (4 each side and three on one end) are 2.1 mm connectors, they supply 4 short cables with the hub which is what gave me the idea to mount it on board. That is fine as meade, celestron, QHY, FLI use the 2.1 jack for power supply. The four ports along each side of the hub are controlled by software. The RCA jacks are indeed for the dew heaters.
and these can be set via software or manually by using the pots on one end.

Mark